Palm Sunday Peace Walk

"The Lord with give strength to his people; the Lord will bless His people with peace."

Psalm 29:11

Before I begin this post, let me first ask this question..."What does peace mean to you?"

According to Webster's Dictionary, peace is 'freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility'. It is also 'freedom from or the cessation of war or violence'. Peace can also be expressed as a greeting or used as an order to remain silent.

You may ask me what does peace means to me. To me, peace is Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God." I have this verse tattooed on my arm and on my heart. Also, being a woman of God, peace has a larger meaning for me. It means being complete, being sound in my faith, in my belief...being with God.

On March 20, 2016, a Palm Sunday Peace Walk took place in my hometown. When I was invited to participate, I immediately signed up. This event was the town's first peace walk to occur on Palm Sunday, a day of wonderful significane for Christians. It is the beginning of Holy Week.

"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while other cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." - Matthew 21: 7-11.

The purpose of the walk, according to those who put the event together, was "to create a participatory community event focused on bringing together the diverse Christian community to notice and acknowledge the many organizaitons in the area who are working for peace by serving the people Jesus called us to serve; the poor, the sick, the isolated, the downtrodden and inprisioned." So, on a cold and light snowy day, a group of fifty or more gathered at church, sang hyms, signed a banner, and headed out the doors into the community to walk.

Before the event, I had planned on asking several of the participants what peace meant to them and why, but after seeing their joy and feeling their sense of peace, I felt this would be out of place and decided to let their voices be heard through the following photos.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27